Dorchester woman dies in MBTA escalator accident

Attack of the killer escalators

Good thing Back Bay's escalator has been broken for weeks!!!

I hope the people don't sue the MBTA. I can't afford another fare increase.

The T is staffed by the same idiots who refused to stop a Red Line train last month even though a man had a siezure and passengers asked for help.

We should get rid of those things. Too many injuries.

The MBTA escalators are a mockery of modern technology. Anyone who has traveled to Washington, London Rome or Paris and rides the smooth, fast escalators in those cities - all of which are apparently older than the MBTA ones -must wonder why Boston escalators have the natural pzazz of square wheels with gravel bearings. The escalators in Harvard Square frequently have such internally-worn steps that they pitch downward an inch or so if you move forward, risking a fall forward, and making it quite risky to walk rather than huddling toward the back of the step where it is stable. Sometimes this irregular wobble of a dozen random steps continues worsening for months at a time, long after complaints and far beyond when safety concerns would dictate immediate refurbishment. Perhaps the MBTA invests in smooth spokespersons rather than safety.

My wife suffered severe injuries at the Alewife station a long time ago.
She fell down from the stairs as people rushed and pushed her causing her to fall.

First and foremost, this is a very sad story, condolences to the family.
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At the same time, this should not become a lawsuit against the MBTA as it inevitably in this never-ending-nothing-should-ever-ever-go-wrong-liberal state of MA.

There is no orange line platform at South Sation, only red or silver

The escalators used by the MBTA are so ancient that they don't have any safeguards to prevent clothing from being caught in the machinery. Not to mention that they're broken most of the time.

It's interesting though that the MBTA likes to blame the victims as often as possible. When the guy died at Porter from the escalator they said it was because he was drinking and tripped. Certainly that guy should have been driving instead of taking the T after having a few drinks. What's more anyone could trip, alcohol isn't required.

It seems like the T spokesman in this case is trying to suggest maybe this woman had a heart attack first but what's likely is she had a heart attack because she panicked once her clothing got caught in the machinery.

Seriously the MBTA must be paying millions of dollars to victims of escalators and other T related incidents. Everyone should be fired having anything to do with escalators including the contractors!

I work in the building right next to the stairwell and was outside when this happened. The MBTA cops were standing around doing nothing at all, there was guy (civilian) in his 20s trying to get someone to help the woman and trying to get someone to cut her loose from the escalator. The MBTA cops refused to do anything but call 911 and wait until the ambulance, BPD, and BFD arrived.

At least we don't have the old wooden ones anymore. I'm only 33, and I remember those. [shudder]

The Engineers at the MBTA get paid a lot of money- why? The equipment is substandard and the worse I have seen around the WORLD. I don't care how old it is... even more reason to maintain it.

The comments of Michael (1) I find very insinsitive and devoid of any sadness or compassion for this poor woman's death. How would he like it, if it had been one of his relatives who died.Michael, next time a better choice of words would be the order of the day.

A real shame about this poor woman, and my condolences go out to her family.

Next: the MBYA will uss this to strike fear into the hearts of commuters and increase fares stating the facilities need emergency maintanance/ repairs.
Then of course they'll find other uses for the funds, mainy giving themselves raises.

I fell on the escalator last year and my knee is still messed up!

To Will: This person happens to be a relative of mine and I think your comment about suing MBTA is incentive on your part. I hope nothing tragic happens to you or your relative. I live in SC and thank the Lord we remember that people have families.

Basically, the T needs to invest more money on doing more renovations on the escalators/elevators they have rather than investing in fare gates that cost millions and have more fare evaders than the old turnstiles. The company which maintains these units are doing the best they can considering the abuse(water,sand,salt,urine,excrement,age of these units,and amount of people) these units endure. The escalators/elevators are way past they're lifespan considering these factors. Its funny how people notice when a unit is out of service due to "maintenance" yet the company is running the elevators/escalators at 97%! Go KONE

I was in the same type of accident in the 60's when someone going up the escalator got a laundry bag caught in the escalator. Several of us fell down. I t was frightening to be crushed under people and there was no emergency switch at the bottom of the escalator. Apparently nothing has changed and the T continues to use outdated equipment with little concern for safety. The location was Egleston Station.

Wait, there was an escalator on the T that was actually RUNNING????

Jo Pesaturo must be proud!

It's Bush's fault.

So far, only comment #8 has shown any compassion for this woman and her family. THey have my deepest sympathy.

Wherever the MBTA, gravestones spring up.

Escalator accidents happen, maybe about one in ten million. The woman was unfortunate. It doesn't imply negligence but, obviously, her family and their parasitic lawyers will become The Commonwealth's next millionaires.

My sympathies to the woman's family.

I'm surprised she found a working escalator at State St.

The woman discussed in the article was my aunt. She was a wonderful woman, devoted to her church, kind, helpful, supportive to her community and family. She was an American who loved her country and supported it anyway she could. She is exactly the neighbor you'd want to have; she was pleasant, intelligent, and fun to speak with. The words of condolences are greatly appreciated. The people who think that posting a joke about such a tragedy is funny clearly lack the basic human compassion that once made this country great.

I'm outraged about what happened. I believe there should be a law that will prosecute people who do not stop to help. Obviously, a huge amount of people lack basic human compassion. I think a law is the only way to rectify this. Not just a law that people must report the crime/incident, but that they should also make an effort to help as long as they are not put at risk of injury or death themselves.
We've all heard of similar things happening to people, crimes committed etc. and this kind of behavior in onlookers and passersby happens all the time.

And the MBTA should definitely be held responsible, I don't care if there is an accident like this that happens once every 10 years.
This didn't have to happen.
To the family,
I send my deepest sympathies. This wonderful lady didn't deserve this.

Condolences to the Family. My Mother just told me about this today. I live in Nyc but use to live in Boston and use to atttend her Church. How Sad this is.
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Is there a emergency shut off on escalators ?

Wow! It's amazing to me the lack of compassion and sympathy people display. A wonderful woman is dead! People idlely passed by and chose to do nothing. Everyone who passed by that day and did nothing is partially responsible for her death. It is an absolute outrage that, in all likelihood, her life was cut short because those around had "things to do" or "places to be". My mother experienced a similar incident in downtown Boston many years ago. A woman had fallen and her scarf was caught in the escalator. While my mother tried in vain to free this woman, my mother repeatedly called out for help. ONE person eventually stopped to help. Countless people (thousands were there), chose to step over them! As the woman turned blue, and the situation seemed hopeless, my mom remembered that she carried a small pair of scissors in her purse. She was able to cut the scarf from this woman. I remember her telling me the story and crying as she did. It was unimagineable to her (and me) that other humans would behave this way. Perhaps we should all reflect upon this and think about what we would do in the same situation. If it were our own life, or the life of someone we love, and the choice of others depended on it, would there be life or would there be death? What a sad day, when someone lay there dying, and people have "things to do" or "places to be." Perhaps some careful consideration should be given to what is really important. What would the world be like without care or concern for another fellow human being? Perhaps we are already there.
My sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of this woman. My gratitude to the man who tried to save her--for he gives me hope.